R. Alexandra Keith

Over the past year, Keith has gained more autonomy as CEO of P&G’s global beauty division, which employs 12,000 people and sells skin, hair, and personal care products in 115 countries. She was included in a move that saw leaders of P&G’s six business units gain the CEO title in order to arm them more decision-making power, from supply chain management to commercialization, the company says. Keith’s unit brought in $13.2 billion of net sales in 2018, an increase of 6.4% year-over-year. She also led the business to 8% growth in organic sales between 2017 and 2018, the highest in a decade. That achievement came as she employed an ingredients-based approach that focuses on the purchasing behaviors of millennials; the strategy is reflected in the turnaround of Olay, the expansion of natural cosmetics brand Native, and the acquisition of Walker & Company, a health and beauty brand for people of color.

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